The Weekender: Ruby Slippers Edition

The actual ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz are a pair of shapeless, dingy, low-heeled pumps, now on display at the Smithsonian. Fonzie’s jacket was much more impressive.

But the Ruby Slipper Fringe Festival, going down this weekend in Winston-Salem and celebrating woman and the arts, promises to be much more spectacular.

Read on… the Weekender awaits.

WEEKEND

Ruby Slipper Fringe Festival @ Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts (W-S)Local indie women artists get a chance to test out new works in fine arts, theater, spoken word, craftmaking, dance and many other disciplines for the Ruby Slipper Fringe Festival. Over the span of this weekend and the next, artists will be given 90-minute spots to present their pieces and receive feedback during artist talkbacks after each presentation. Don’t miss “Blancaflor,” a retelling of a traditional Spanish folk tale on Saturday night, and “Violation Withdrawal” on Sunday afternoon, a dance piece exploring themes of social media and isolation.

Internet Cat Festival @ a/perture cinema (W-S)If you were already planning on spending the weekend in a darkened room watching cat videos on YouTube, why not do that with other people and raise money for charity? Worship cats like you’re in ancient Egypt at a/perture this weekend; a portion of your ticket supports local charity Forgotten Felines of Forsyth.

Spring dance concert @ High Point University (HP), 7:30 p.m.A collection of dance works choreographed by faculty and students present a wide range of styles and approaches. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and bring a nonperishable food item for a drive if you so wish. The event is free.

THURSDAY

Winter exhibits artists reception @ Theatre Arts Galleries (HP), 5:30 p.m.|Local artists are given ample room to showcase their range in TAG’s winter season: photographer Barbara Tyroler and sculptor James Barnhill share the space with Les Caison III, a previous Elsewhere artist in residence and mixed-media painter. If you can’t make the reception, exhibits will be up until March 11.

Free the Grid tour @ Winston-Salem Marriott (W-S), 6:30 p.m.Americans for Prosperity NC hosts a discussion on the “power struggle” in the state and how to cut down utility costs. Panelists include Sen. Andrew Brock (R-Davie) and Rep. Chris Millis (R-Pender). Plus: free dinner. Reserve your spot at freethegridtour.eventbrite.com.

FRIDAY

Una velada con Don Quixote @ Scuppernong Books (GSO), 7 p.m.Casa Azul of Greensboro teams up with Scuppernong Books for an evening with Don Quixote and his windmill-chasing legacy as part of the statewide El Quixote Festival. Traditional Spanish music and original artwork by local artists are the order of the day. Community members will read their favorite parts from Don Quixote, and Spanish wine will be served. For more information, visit the event page on Facebook.

SATURDAY

Haven: Fearlessness Reimagined @ Wake Forest University (W-S), noonTEDxWakeForestU returns for its fifth year for an afternoon of talks on all things security, from computers to food safety. Speakers include CEOs of the Polaris Project and Oracle corporation, professors from Chapel Hill and Wake, and the architect of the 9/11 Memorial. Buy tickets at events.wfu.edu.

Charity Yule Ball @ Guilford College (GSO), 8 p.m.One can only guess at what a “performance broom” is or looks like, but if you win it in the auction, you can fly on over and tell us all about it. This event hosted by Guilford’s Quidditch team is sure to be an evening of magical geekery. Proceeds go toward the charity Lumos, founded by our lady of perpetual Potterdom, JK Rowling herself. Formal attire is recommended. Tickets can be purchased at the door (and Guilford students enter for free with ID). For more information, see the event’s Facebook page.

Royal House and White Violet @ the Garage (W-S), 9 p.m.Headliner White Violet’s sophomore album, recorded in 2014 in Kernersville, is full of sensibly poppy love songs, such as “Fernandina”, a catchy, soaring song about a whirlwind romance at a beachside hotel. Royal House brings more of a dark folk-rock vibe reminiscent of Ben Howard.

SUNDAY

Ibestock @ Ziggy’s (W-S), 3 p.m.The life of the late Ibrahim Myers will be celebrated in what Ziggy’s is billing as “quite possibly will the last Ziggy’s show.” Myers passed away in January after sustaining serious injuries from a cycling accident in 2011. Stories about “Ibe” will be shared, and the day will be packed with tribute performances from Winston bands such as Uzzard and 1970s Film Stock. All money collected will go to Myers’ mother. Check Ziggy’s Facebook page for more details.

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Triad City Beat exists to chronicle the North Carolina Triad cities of Winston-Salem, High Point, and Greensboro as low-cost incubators of innovation, sustainability and creativity. We publish smart reporting and writing that recognizes the intelligence of our readers.